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# A Solution in Search of a Problem: Unveiling the Pitfalls of Premature Optimization
Author: Dr. Anya Sharma, PhD, Professor of Innovation and Technology Management at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Sloan School of Management. Dr. Sharma has published extensively on the topics of innovation, technological advancement, and the challenges of bringing new products and services to market.
Keyword: A solution in search of a problem
Introduction: The Peril of the Premature Solution
The phrase "a solution in search of a problem" perfectly encapsulates a common, yet often disastrous, pitfall in innovation and technological development. It describes a scenario where a brilliant technological advancement, a sophisticated algorithm, or a novel design is developed without a clear, well-defined problem to solve. While the solution itself may be impressive, its lack of grounding in a genuine need renders it ultimately irrelevant and potentially wasteful. This article will delve into the multifaceted nature of this phenomenon, examining its causes, consequences, and potential mitigations. We will explore how "a solution in search of a problem" manifests across various sectors, from business and technology to government and social initiatives.
The Genesis of a Solution in Search of a Problem
Several factors contribute to the creation of "a solution in search of a problem." One primary driver is a technology-driven approach to innovation, where the focus is on the capabilities of a new technology rather than the underlying needs of the market or society. Engineers and researchers, captivated by the potential of their creations, may become so engrossed in technical advancements that they overlook the crucial step of identifying a compelling problem worthy of a solution. This often leads to a situation where "a solution in search of a problem" emerges as a byproduct of technological prowess, rather than a response to a genuine need.
Another factor is the pressure to innovate continuously. In competitive industries, companies may feel compelled to constantly introduce new products or services, even if those innovations lack a clear market pull. This pressure can lead to the development of "a solution in search of a problem," forcing a fit between a pre-existing solution and a somewhat contrived problem.
Furthermore, biases can play a significant role. Confirmation bias, for instance, can lead innovators to focus on evidence that supports their pre-existing belief in the value of their solution, while ignoring evidence suggesting a lack of market need. Similarly, sunk cost fallacy can trap organizations in pursuing a "solution in search of a problem" because they've already invested significant resources, even if it becomes clear that the solution is ultimately unviable.
The Consequences of a Solution in Search of a Problem
The consequences of developing "a solution in search of a problem" can be significant and far-reaching. Firstly, it leads to wasted resources. Time, money, and talent are invested in a project that ultimately fails to generate any meaningful value. This is particularly problematic in industries with limited resources, such as healthcare or environmental conservation, where every dollar counts.
Secondly, it can damage reputation. Launching a product or service that fails to meet a clear need can harm a company's credibility and make it harder to attract investment or customers in the future. The perception that an organization is developing "a solution in search of a problem" can undermine trust and confidence.
Thirdly, it can stifle true innovation. Resources diverted to projects that are ultimately unsuccessful could have been used to develop solutions for real and pressing problems. This missed opportunity costs society dearly, hindering progress and perpetuating existing challenges. The focus on "a solution in search of a problem" can distract from the critical task of identifying and addressing genuine societal needs.
Identifying and Avoiding a Solution in Search of a Problem
Preventing the development of "a solution in search of a problem" requires a fundamental shift in mindset. It necessitates a problem-centric approach to innovation, where the focus is first on understanding and defining the problem, and only then on developing a solution.
This involves rigorous market research to identify unmet needs and genuine pain points. It also entails conducting thorough user research to understand the perspectives and experiences of potential customers. Employing lean startup methodologies, with a focus on rapid prototyping and iterative testing, can help validate the relevance of a solution before significant resources are invested. A strong emphasis on customer feedback throughout the development process is crucial in ensuring that the solution is truly addressing a problem that people care about.
Finally, fostering a culture of critical thinking and open dialogue is vital. Organizations should encourage the questioning of assumptions and the challenging of established ideas. This helps to prevent biases from leading to the development of "a solution in search of a problem."
Conclusion: Finding the Right Problem First
The phrase "a solution in search of a problem" highlights a critical challenge in innovation and technological development. By understanding the underlying causes, consequences, and mitigations, organizations and individuals can avoid the pitfalls of premature optimization and ensure that their efforts are directed towards creating solutions that genuinely address real-world problems. A problem-driven approach, coupled with rigorous testing and iterative development, is crucial for ensuring that innovations are not only technologically impressive but also meaningfully impactful.
FAQs
1. What is the difference between innovation and a "solution in search of a problem"? Innovation solves a real problem; a "solution in search of a problem" offers a technological advancement without a clear need.
2. How can I tell if my own project might be a "solution in search of a problem"? Ask yourself: Does it address a real, significant pain point? Have you thoroughly researched the market need? Is there solid evidence of demand?
3. Are all new technologies inherently "solutions in search of a problem"? No, many new technologies solve existing problems in novel ways. The problem lies in focusing on the technology before the problem.
4. What role does marketing play in creating a "solution in search of a problem"? Marketing can sometimes create a perceived need for a solution that doesn't truly exist, blurring the line between genuine need and manufactured demand.
5. How can governments avoid funding "solutions in search of a problem"? Rigorous impact assessments, peer review, and a focus on evidence-based policymaking are vital.
6. Is it always bad to have a "solution in search of a problem"? Not always. Sometimes, a solution initially without a clear application might later find a perfect fit as problems and needs evolve.
7. What are some examples of historical "solutions in search of a problem"? Betamax video recorders, many early social media platforms, and some government-funded research projects.
8. How can companies prevent internal biases from leading to "solutions in search of a problem"? Encourage diverse teams, actively solicit criticism, and prioritize data-driven decision-making.
9. What’s the best approach to avoid falling into the trap of a "solution in search of a problem"? Start with the problem. Thoroughly research, validate, and iterate.
Related Articles
1. "The Lean Startup: How Today's Entrepreneurs Use Continuous Innovation to Create Radically Successful Businesses" by Eric Ries: This book provides a framework for building businesses around validated learning and customer feedback, mitigating the risk of developing solutions without a clear market need.
2. "Zero to One: Notes on Startups, or How to Build the Future" by Peter Thiel: This book emphasizes the importance of building unique and valuable products, thereby indirectly addressing the issue of creating solutions without a clear problem.
3. "The Innovator's Dilemma: When New Technologies Cause Great Firms to Fail" by Clayton Christensen: This book explores how established companies can fail to adapt to disruptive innovations, sometimes leading to the development of "solutions in search of a problem" out of a lack of understanding of evolving needs.
4. "Blue Ocean Strategy: How to Create Uncontested Market Space and Make the Competition Irrelevant" by W. Chan Kim and Renée Mauborgne: This book emphasizes the importance of creating new market spaces, potentially avoiding the pitfall of focusing on existing solutions without addressing unmet needs.
5. "The Design of Everyday Things" by Donald A. Norman: This book underscores the importance of user-centric design, highlighting the need to deeply understand the problems users face before creating solutions.
6. "Crossing the Chasm: Marketing and Selling High-Tech Products to Mainstream Customers" by Geoffrey A. Moore: This book stresses the importance of understanding market segments and tailoring solutions to specific needs, which helps avoid the problem of developing for a niche that doesn't exist.
7. "The Art of Innovation: Lessons in Creativity from IDEO, America's Leading Design Firm" by Tom Kelley: This book offers insights into innovative design processes, which emphasize user-centered problem-solving.
8. Articles on Design Thinking: Numerous articles on design thinking provide frameworks and tools to better understand users and their problems before designing solutions.
9. Case studies on failed product launches: Examining case studies of failed products that were "solutions in search of a problem" provides valuable learning experiences and helps in avoiding similar pitfalls.
Publisher: MIT Press – A leading academic publisher known for its contributions to the fields of technology, management, and innovation.
Editor: Dr. David Chen, PhD, Senior Editor at MIT Press, specializing in technology and business strategy. Dr. Chen has extensive experience editing publications related to innovation management and technological advancement.
| a solution in search of a problem: In Search of Stupidity Merrill R. Chapman, 2003-07-08 Describes influential business philosophies and marketing ideas from the past twenty years and examines why they did not work. |
| a solution in search of a problem: The History of the Laser Mario Bertolotti, 2004-10-01 Since the invention of the first working laser in 1960, development of these devices has progressed at an unprecedented rate, to the extent that the laser is now a common part of everyday life, from the semiconductor laser used in CD players and telecommunication systems to the high power eximer lasers used in manufacturing processes. This book tra |
| a solution in search of a problem: Beam Jeff Hecht, 2005-03-10 Prologue: May 16, 1960, Malibu, California. 1. The Laser Race. 2. Microwaves Are the First Step. 3. Leaping a Few Orders of Magnitude: The Optical Maser. 4. The Outsider's Invention: The Laser. 5. Bell Labs Takes the Early Lead. 6. Stimulating the Emission of Money. 7. A Spreading Interest in the Laser Idea. 8. A Pause to Compare Notes. 9. A Dark Horse Joins the Race. 10. Everybody knew it was going to happen within months--Bell Labs Feels Safely in the Lead. 11. A Crash Program at Pipsqueak Inc.. 12. The Siren Call of the Laser. 13. The Critical Question of Efficiency. |
| a solution in search of a problem: In Search of a Better World Karl Popper, 2012-12-06 'I want to begin by declaring that I regard scientific knowledge as the most important kind of knowledge we have', writes Sir Karl Popper in the opening essay of this book, which collects his meditations on the real improvements science has wrought in society, in politics and in the arts in the course of the twentieth century. His subjects range from the beginnings of scientific speculation in classical Greece to the destructive effects of twentieth century totalitarianism, from major figures of the Enlightenment such as Kant and Voltaire to the role of science and self-criticism in the arts. The essays offer striking new insights into the mind of one of the greatest twentieth century philosophers. |
| a solution in search of a problem: Thinking About Equations Matt A. Bernstein, William A. Friedman, 2011-09-20 An accessible guide to developing intuition and skills for solving mathematical problems in the physical sciences and engineering Equations play a central role in problem solving across various fields of study. Understanding what an equation means is an essential step toward forming an effective strategy to solve it, and it also lays the foundation for a more successful and fulfilling work experience. Thinking About Equations provides an accessible guide to developing an intuitive understanding of mathematical methods and, at the same time, presents a number of practical mathematical tools for successfully solving problems that arise in engineering and the physical sciences. Equations form the basis for nearly all numerical solutions, and the authors illustrate how a firm understanding of problem solving can lead to improved strategies for computational approaches. Eight succinct chapters provide thorough topical coverage, including: Approximation and estimation Isolating important variables Generalization and special cases Dimensional analysis and scaling Pictorial methods and graphical solutions Symmetry to simplify equations Each chapter contains a general discussion that is integrated with worked-out problems from various fields of study, including physics, engineering, applied mathematics, and physical chemistry. These examples illustrate the mathematical concepts and techniques that are frequently encountered when solving problems. To accelerate learning, the worked example problems are grouped by the equation-related concepts that they illustrate as opposed to subfields within science and mathematics, as in conventional treatments. In addition, each problem is accompanied by a comprehensive solution, explanation, and commentary, and numerous exercises at the end of each chapter provide an opportunity to test comprehension. Requiring only a working knowledge of basic calculus and introductory physics, Thinking About Equations is an excellent supplement for courses in engineering and the physical sciences at the upper-undergraduate and graduate levels. It is also a valuable reference for researchers, practitioners, and educators in all branches of engineering, physics, chemistry, biophysics, and other related fields who encounter mathematical problems in their day-to-day work. |
| a solution in search of a problem: Doing AI Richard Heimann, 2021-12-14 Artificial intelligence (AI) has captured our imaginations—and become a distraction. Too many leaders embrace the oversized narratives of artificial minds outpacing human intelligence and lose sight of the original problems they were meant to solve. When businesses try to “do AI,” they place an abstract solution before problems and customers without fully considering whether it is wise, whether the hype is true, or how AI will impact their organization in the long term. Often absent is sound reasoning for why they should go down this path in the first place. Doing AI explores AI for what it actually is—and what it is not— and the problems it can truly solve. In these pages, author Richard Heimann unravels the tricky relationship between problems and high-tech solutions, exploring the pitfalls in solution-centric thinking and explaining how businesses should rethink AI in a way that aligns with their cultures, goals, and values. As the Chief AI Officer at Cybraics Inc., Richard Heimann knows from experience that AI-specific strategies are often bad for business. Doing AI is his comprehensive guide that will help readers understand AI, avoid common pitfalls, and identify beneficial applications for their companies. This book is a must-read for anyone looking for clarity and practical guidance for identifying problems and effectively solving them, rather than getting sidetracked by a shiny new “solution” that doesn’t solve anything. |
| a solution in search of a problem: Arid Land Hydrogeology: In Search of a Solution to a Threatened Resource A.M.O. Mohamed, 2006-07-27 There are many urgent problems in arid land hydrogeology and it is these issues which are tackled in this volume on desert environments. The UAE-Japan symposia provide a venue for the exchange of expertise, confronting such problems as purification, usage and management of groundwater, the assessment and protection of sustainable water resources, a |
| a solution in search of a problem: Probabilistic Search for Tracking Targets Irad Ben-Gal, Eugene Kagan, 2013-03-25 Presents a probabilistic and information-theoretic framework for a search for static or moving targets in discrete time and space. Probabilistic Search for Tracking Targets uses an information-theoretic scheme to present a unified approach for known search methods to allow the development of new algorithms of search. The book addresses search methods under different constraints and assumptions, such as search uncertainty under incomplete information, probabilistic search scheme, observation errors, group testing, search games, distribution of search efforts, single and multiple targets and search agents, as well as online or offline search schemes. The proposed approach is associated with path planning techniques, optimal search algorithms, Markov decision models, decision trees, stochastic local search, artificial intelligence and heuristic information-seeking methods. Furthermore, this book presents novel methods of search for static and moving targets along with practical algorithms of partitioning and search and screening. Probabilistic Search for Tracking Targets includes complete material for undergraduate and graduate courses in modern applications of probabilistic search, decision-making and group testing, and provides several directions for further research in the search theory. The authors: Provide a generalized information-theoretic approach to the problem of real-time search for both static and moving targets over a discrete space. Present a theoretical framework, which covers known information-theoretic algorithms of search, and forms a basis for development and analysis of different algorithms of search over probabilistic space. Use numerous examples of group testing, search and path planning algorithms to illustrate direct implementation in the form of running routines. Consider a relation of the suggested approach with known search theories and methods such as search and screening theory, search games, Markov decision process models of search, data mining methods, coding theory and decision trees. Discuss relevant search applications, such as quality-control search for nonconforming units in a batch or a military search for a hidden target. Provide an accompanying website featuring the algorithms discussed throughout the book, along with practical implementations procedures. |
| a solution in search of a problem: In Search of More Solutions Janet Taylor, 1995 This book provides students with opportunities to develop their problem-solving skills and teachers with ideas for assignments and investigations. |
| a solution in search of a problem: In Search of Individually Optimal Movement Solutions in Sport: Learning between Stability and Flexibility Ana Filipa Silva, John Komar, Ludovic Seifert, 2021-09-28 |
| a solution in search of a problem: Solvable ARNAUD. ENDERS CHEVALLIER (ALBRECHT.), Albrecht Enders, 2022-06-07 |
| a solution in search of a problem: Projects as Arenas for Renewal and Learning Processes Rolf A. Lundin, Christophe Midler, 2012-12-06 There is a growing tendency to organize various aspects of business life by projects, and to set up temporary organizations in a competition where speed and adaptability becomes a major necessity. Organizing by projects is perceived as a good way to ensure action and to stress the importance of getting work done. However, there is a need to balance the stress on action so that learning capabilities are not only retained, but augmented. Projects as Arenas for Renewal and Learning Processes provides examples of how different types of projects function from a learning or renewal perspective, taken from a wide variety of real-life environments in industrial and public organizations. This book illustrates the mistaken habit of assuming too much in the project area: for example, project notions are, in fact, culture-dependent; classical market-oriented contracting business relations do not fit with the learning dimension of projects; and long-term learning on core competencies and product development projects need to be connected. The book is also intended to represent many of the research frontiers in the project field. Enhancing learning capabilities is - or should be - of a mutual concern to researchers and managers alike. |
| a solution in search of a problem: The Smart Solution Book David Cotton, 2016-10-31 The Smart Solution Book explains each tool in detail – what it is, when and how to use it, its strengths and its limitations. The tools range from quick fixes, which can be used by someone working alone, to large scale solutions which can be used by groups of 100 and more. You can also use the tools separately or in combination with each other. Frame problems so they can be solved Find a solution to even the most intractable problem Enjoy the process of problem solving, whether alone or in collaboration with others Become more creative in your thinking so that, over time, solutions begin to present themselves The Smart Solution Book will change your way of thinking about business problems: apply the techniques and see the solutions unfold. The full text downloaded to your computer With eBooks you can: search for key concepts, words and phrases make highlights and notes as you study share your notes with friends eBooks are downloaded to your computer and accessible either offline through the Bookshelf (available as a free download), available online and also via the iPad and Android apps. Upon purchase, you'll gain instant access to this eBook. Time limit The eBooks products do not have an expiry date. You will continue to access your digital ebook products whilst you have your Bookshelf installed. |
| a solution in search of a problem: In Search of a New Humanism M.R. Egidi, 2013-04-17 This collection of essays presents a systematic and up-to-date survey of the main aspects of Georg Henrik von Wright's philosophy, tracing the general humanistic leitmotiv to be found in his vast, varied output. The analysis covers the developments in Von Wright's thought up to the end of the 1990s. The essays are arranged thematically to focus on the chief areas of Von Wright's interests: practical rationality; human action and determinism; philosophical logic and theories of norms; research in the analytical tradition; and Wittgenstein studies. Readership: Scholars and students of moral philosophy, logic, psychology, sociology, cognitive science and the history of contemporary philosophy. |
| a solution in search of a problem: In Search of a Peace Settlement M. Gat, 2012-06-28 This is the first examination of the Israeli and Egyptian peace process between 1967-1973, which highlights the rise and fall of Soviet influence after the Six Day War and explores how the increasing importance of America's political leadership affected the region. |
| a solution in search of a problem: In Search of Synergy in Small Group Performance James R. Larson, Jr., 2013-01-11 This volume critically evaluates more than a century of empirical research on the effectiveness of small, task-performing groups, and offers a fresh look at the costs and benefits of collaborative work arrangements. The central question taken up by this book is whether -- and under what conditions -- interaction among group members leads to better performance than would otherwise be achieved simply by combining the separate efforts of an equal number of people who work independently. This question is considered with respect to a range of tasks (idea-generation, problem solving, judgment, and decision-making) and from several different process perspectives (learning and memory, motivation, and member diversity). As a framework for assessing the empirical literature, the book introduces the concept of 'synergy.' Synergy refers to an objective gain in performance that is attributable to group interaction. Further, it distinguishes between weak and strong synergy, which are performance gains of different magnitude. The book highlights the currently available empirical evidence for both weak and strong synergy, identifies the conditions that seem necessary to produce each, and suggests where the search for synergy might best be directed in the future. The book is at once a high-level introduction to the field, a review of the field's history, and a scholarly critique of the current state-of-the-art. As such, it is essential reading for graduate students, advanced undergraduate students, and researchers interested in group dynamics generally -- and small group performance in particular. |
| a solution in search of a problem: In Search of Certainty Mark Burgess, 2015-04-09 Quite soon, the world’s information infrastructure is going to reach a level of scale and complexity that will force scientists and engineers to approach it in an entirely new way. The familiar notions of command and control are being thwarted by realities of a faster, denser world of communication where choice, variety, and indeterminism rule. The myth of the machine that does exactly what we tell it has come to an end. What makes us think we can rely on all this technology? What keeps it together today, and how might it work tomorrow? Will we know how to build the next generation—or will we be lulled into a stupor of dependence brought about by its conveniences? In this book, Mark Burgess focuses on the impact of computers and information on our modern infrastructure by taking you from the roots of science to the principles behind system operation and design. To shape the future of technology, we need to understand how it works—or else what we don’t understand will end up shaping us. This book explores this subject in three parts: Part I, Stability: describes the fundamentals of predictability, and why we have to give up the idea of control in its classical meaning Part II, Certainty: describes the science of what we can know, when we don’t control everything, and how we make the best of life with only imperfect information Part III, Promises: explains how the concepts of stability and certainty may be combined to approach information infrastructure as a new kind of virtual material, restoring a continuity to human-computer systems so that society can rely on them. |
| a solution in search of a problem: Jazz in Search of Itself Larry Kart, 2008-10-01 In this engaging and astute anthology of jazz criticism, Larry Kart casts a wide net. Discussing nearly seventy major jazz figures and many of the music’s key stylistic developments, Kart sees jazz as a unique perpetual narrative—one in which musicians, their audiences, and the evolving music itself are intimately intertwined. Because jazz arose from the collision of specific peoples under particular conditions, says Kart, its development has been unusually immediate, visible, and intense. Kart has reacted to and judged the music in a similarly active, attentive, and personal manner. His involvement and attention to detail are visible in these pieces: essays that analyze the supposed return to tradition that the music of Wynton Marsalis has come to exemplify; searching accounts of the careers of Miles Davis, Thelonius Monk, Bill Evans, and Lennie Tristano; and writing that explores jazz’s relationship to American popular song and examines the jazz musician’s role as actual and would-be social rebel. |
| a solution in search of a problem: In Search of Psyche Douglas P. Crowne, 2003-11-03 In Search of Psyche tells of a psychology professor who doffed his academic robes for a year to sit in on university classes. It gives a view of the fare students get in one of the largest courses in Colleges of Arts and Science at a nationwide sample of distinguished universities. From it come answers to these questions: What is the psychology taught to beginning students? How is it taught? How well? In Search of Psyche is, thus, introductory psychology at Berkeley on a Wednesday in October, Stanford the next Tuesday, Michigan and Ohio State in the same week in February, Harvard and Yale in early spring. |
| a solution in search of a problem: Regulatory Politics in an Age of Polarization and Drift Marc Allen Eisner, 2017-02-24 Regulatory change is typically understood as a response to significant crises like the Great Depression, or salient events that focus public attention, like Earth Day 1970. Without discounting the importance of these kinds of events, change often assumes more gradual and less visible forms. But how do we ‘see’ change, and what institutions and processes are behind it? In this book, author Marc Eisner brings these questions to bear on the analysis of regulatory change, walking the reader through a clear-eyed and careful examination of: the dynamics of regulatory change since the 1970s social regulation and institutional design forms of gradual change – including conversion, layering, and drift gridlock, polarization, and the privatization of regulation financial collapse and the anatomy of regulatory failure Demonstrating that transparency and accountability – the hallmarks of public regulation – are increasingly absent, and that deregulation was but one factor in our most recent significant financial collapse, the Great Recession, this book urges readers to look beyond deregulation and consider the broader political implications for our current system of voluntary participation in regulatory programs and the proliferation of public-private partnerships. This book provides an accessible introduction to the complex topic of regulatory politics, ideal for upper-level and graduate courses on regulation, government and business, bureaucratic politics, and public policy. |
| a solution in search of a problem: In Search of Infinity N.Ya. Vilenkin, 2013-06-29 The concept of infinity is one of the most important, and at the same time, one of the most mysterious concepts of science. Already in antiquity many philosophers and mathematicians pondered over its contradictory nature. In mathematics, the contradictions connected with infinity intensified after the creation, at the end of the 19th century, of the theory of infinite sets and the subsequent discovery, soon after, of paradoxes in this theory. At the time, many scientists ignored the paradoxes and used set theory extensively in their work, while others subjected set-theoretic methods in mathematics to harsh criticism. The debate intensified when a group of French mathematicians, who wrote under the pseudonym of Nicolas Bourbaki, tried to erect the whole edifice of mathematics on the single notion of a set. Some mathematicians greeted this attempt enthusiastically while others regarded it as an unnecessary formalization, an attempt to tear mathematics away from life-giving practical applications that sustain it. These differences notwithstanding, Bourbaki has had a significant influence on the evolution of mathematics in the twentieth century. In this book we try to tell the reader how the idea of the infinite arose and developed in physics and in mathematics, how the theory of infinite sets was constructed, what paradoxes it has led to, what significant efforts have been made to eliminate the resulting contradictions, and what routes scientists are trying to find that would provide a way out of the many difficulties. |
| a solution in search of a problem: Personality in Search of Individuality Nathan Brody, 2013-10-22 In this, his fourth book published by Academic Press, the author pursues current theories in the expansive field of personality research. Presenting a unique perspective on recent developments in the field, the emphasis is on empirical research. Topics discussed include stability and change in traits, the behavior genetics of traits, a review and defense of trait theory, and a comprehensive review of research on the unconscious. |
| a solution in search of a problem: In Search of Justice Richard J. Jensen, John C. Hammerback, 1987 |
| a solution in search of a problem: In Search of Jung (RLE: Jung) J. J. Clarke, 2014-07-17 Is Jung one of the most exciting and important thinkers of our age? Or is he just a dabbler in the occult and oriental mysticism? Although Jung has enjoyed wide popularity over time, he is still not accorded an appropriately honoured place in the history of modern thought. His interest in Oriental thought, alchemy and astrology has alienated many and he is often marginalized by scholars and academics. Originally published in 1992, this book aimed to rectify this state of affairs by showing that Jung was an important thinker in his own right and that his ideas play an important role at the heart of the intellectual debates of our age. The book explores Jung’s relationship with some of the great philosophical thinkers and movements such as Hegel, Nietzsche and existentialism, examines his links with the revolutionary ideas of modern physics and argues that his conception of the human psyche represents an important contribution to perennial questions about mind, human nature and human destiny. |
| a solution in search of a problem: In Search of Meaning Ulrich Arnswald, 2009 The essays collected in this volume explore some of the themes that have been at the centre of recent debates within Wittgensteinian scholarship. In opposition to what we are tentatively inclined to think, the articles of this volume invite us to understand that our need to grasp the essence of ethical and religious thought and language will not be achieved by metaphysical theories expounded from such a point of view, but by focusing on our everyday forms of expression. |
| a solution in search of a problem: In Search of Ireland Brian Graham, 2002-11-01 In Search of Ireland argues that Ireland's political problems are created by conflicts and confusions of identity. It brings together a number of distinguished contributors, each of whom examines a particular aspect of Ireland's diverse cultural geography and history. Issues covered include: the changing definitions of Irishness the roles of class and gender in constructing traditional alignments of identity the role of ethnicity in Irish society the invention and imagining of Irish 'place' the political implications of a pluralistic Ireland The contributors demonstrate that many people both inside and outside of Ireland continue to define themselves and their conflicts through simple sectarian stereotypes. The authors argue that politicians and others must reject these outdated either/or representations and accommodate instead the fluidity of Irish identity. James Anderson, University of Newcastle-Upon-Tyne S.J. Connolly, Queens's University, Belfast Neville Douglas, Queen's University, Belfast Brian Graham, University of Ulste |
| a solution in search of a problem: Virtualosity: Eight Students in Search of Cyberlaw Nicholas Johnson and Others, 2009 Nicholas Johnson and eight law students in the University of Iowa Cyberspace Law Seminar, Spring 2009, investigate everything from property rights in virtual worlds to domestic cyber attacks to K-12 students' rights with their online, off-campus speech. |
| a solution in search of a problem: In Search of the True Universe Martin Harwit, 2013-11-18 This book examines how our understanding of the cosmos advanced rapidly during the twentieth century and identifies factors contributing to this progress. |
| a solution in search of a problem: In Search of Freedom Willie V. Bryan, 2006 This updated and expanded new edition continues the theme of the first edition of emphasizing the struggles in which persons with disabilities have engaged, the barriers they have had to overcome, and the barriers they continue to face in their quest to obtain freedom. A major point is that disabilities are a part of life and everyone has limitations, therefore, persons with disabilities should be treated the same as any other human. The disability rights movement and its role in placing the demands of persons with disabilities before American society are discussed. Legislative action that impacted persons with disabilities is traced through the Americans with Disabilities Act. The impact of attitudes, self-concept, and self-esteem are explored, as well as the family's role in assisting persons with disabilities in their search for freedom. Intervention strategies are also discussed including the actions that are needed before persons with disabilities can be truly free. Although significant progress has been made, the laws mentioned in this book as well as other unmentioned laws can do only so much with regard to helping people with disabilities. Given this reality, it is imperative that persons with disabilities make the American public aware of the inequities that still exist. The search for freedom must continue and the search should be inspired and led by persons with disabilities. Consequently, this second edition deals with both the needs of persons with disabilities and the actions they must take to attain their freedoms.--Publisher's website. |
| a solution in search of a problem: In Search of Cool Ground Tim Allen, 1996 Concentrates attention on crucial issues which have been largely ignored and must become key aspects of assistance programs in war-torn areas of the Horn of Africa. |
| a solution in search of a problem: In Search of Pedagogy Volume I Jerome S. Bruner, 2006-09-27 Jerome Bruner is one of the best-known and most influential psychologists of the twentieth century. His theories about cognitive development dominate psychology around the world today, but it is in the field of education where his influence has been especially felt. In this two volume set, Bruner has selected and assembled his most important writings about education. Volume I spans the twenty years from 1957 to 1978 and Volume II covers 1979 to 2006. Volume I starts with a specially written introduction by Bruner, in which he gives an overview of the 1957-1978 years and contextualises his selection of papers. The articles and chapters then reveal the thinking, the concepts and the empirical research of that time that have made Bruner one of the most respected and cited educational authorities of our time. |
| a solution in search of a problem: In Search of the Working Class Leon Fink, 1994 These nine essays by a prominent scholar in American labor history self-consciously evoke the tensions between the worker as historical subject and the historian as outside observer. Encompassing studies of labor culture, strategy, and movement building from the late nineteenth century to the present, In Search of the Working Class also connects the trials of the early labor economists to the conceptual challenges facing today's academic practitioners. Fink places American labor history in the broader context of American political historiography better than any other historian I can think of. -- James R. Barrett, author of Work and Community in the Jungle: Chicago's Packinghouse Workers, 1894-1922 |
| a solution in search of a problem: In Search of Arab Unity 1930-1945 Yehoshua Porath, 2014-01-14 First Published in 1986. Routledge is an imprint of Taylor & Francis, an informa company. |
| a solution in search of a problem: In Search of True Wisdom Edward Ball, 1999-12-01 The distinguished authors whose essays appear in this volume (marking the seventieth birthday of Ronald Clements,who until his retirement, was the Samuel Davidson Professor of Old Testament Studies, King's College London) include John Barton, Walter Brueggemann, Brevard Childs, John Rogerson, Rolf Rendtorff, Hugh Williamson, the late Norman Whybray, Graeme Auld, Richard Coggins. The theme of the volume reflects Clements's recent interest in 'wisdom' as an interpretative framework, and the essays address the role of theology and hermeneutics in biblical exegesis, through an examination of methods and approaches as well as by application to specific Old Testament writings. While the volume ranges through issues of canon, biblical theology and literary criticism, with several essays on the prophetic books, it maintains a clear focus on the numerous issues and challenges facing the contemporary interpreter of the scriptures. |
| a solution in search of a problem: In Search of a Home Leonard Mason, Patricia Hereniko, 1987 |
| a solution in search of a problem: In Search of the Obvious Jack Trout, 2008-12-22 This is the first book that states the obvious: Marketing is a mess. Marketing guru Jack Trout intends to make a lot of people, who made the mess, very uncomfortable: Advertisers are criticized as people who look for the creative and edgy, not the obvious. They will not be happy. Marketing people are criticized for getting hopelessly entangled in corporate egos and complicated projects. They will not be happy. Research people are criticized for generating more confusion than clarity. They will not be happy. Some big companies are criticized for their ill-fated marketing programs or lack of proper strategy. They will not be happy. Wall Street is criticized for putting too much emphasis on growth that is unnecessary and can be destructive to a brand. They will just ignore this criticism and continue trying to make as much money as they can. But this is a book not written to make people happy but to explain to marketers what their real problem is. Only then will they begin to look for the obvious solutions that will separate their products from their competitors -- in a way that is equally obvious to customers. All this comes with no jargon, no numbers, no complexity, and a great deal of common sense. |
| a solution in search of a problem: In Search of Blessing EMMANUEL KOKOU GAGLO, 2014-05 Discovering the hiding powers of your life is very important to overcoming your personal problems, and enjoy successful life. Your life must not be left at the mercy of circumstances. Just having faith and believing in God, and praying for blessing, whilst living in the mist of problems is as a result of lack of knowledge of the power of your life -blessing. In Search of Blessing helps you ask the right questions about your life and God's role in it, and begin to bring your scattered life together through knowledge of the gifts of your life, and establish good relationship with God. As a powerful tool for personal transformation, it enables you discover the power of your life, take control and responsibility of it for successful and better living. It answers life's most basic questions about blessing. This book helps you understand the power of your life over your circumstances by discovering; - The purpose of your life - The Strategies to unleash the power of your life - The miracle and the power of your mind, and your thought process - How to take control over your life and your destiny - What God expects from you - How to lead God to answer your prayers - How to break loose from scarcity mentality to abundance mentality Then, you will be motivated and be transformed; - From weakness to power - From grief to joy - From tribulation, to triumph - From defeated life to victory - From failing life to successful life - From emptiness to fullness - From fear to confidence - From I can't to yes! I can Whatever you want to be in life, lies in your life, and this book is your guide. |
| a solution in search of a problem: In Search of a Philosophical Anthropology Antoon Vergote, 2022-01-10 ISBN 9042000147 (paperback) NLG 50.00 What makes the person truly human? This is the question that is systematically investigated by Vergote in this fine collection of papers. The integrating themes of the various studies reported here are the exploration of human experience, and the achievement of humanity by the individual. issues in feminist theory. |
| a solution in search of a problem: Case-Based Reasoning Isabelle Bichindaritz, Stefania Montani, 2010-07-10 This book constitutes the proceedings of the 18th International Conference on Case-Based Reasoning, held in Alessandria, Italy, in July 2010. |
| a solution in search of a problem: In Search of the Virtual Class Lalita Rajasingham, John Tiffin, 2002-09-11 'Shirley zips into her skin-tight school uniform, which on the outside looks something like a ski suit. The lining of the suit in fact contains cabling that makes the suit a communication system and there are pressure pads where the suit touches skin that give a sense of touch. Next, she sits astride something that is a bit like a motorbike, except that it has no wheels and is attached firmly to the floor. Her feet fit on to something similar to a brake and accelerator and her gloved hands hold onto handlebars. She shouts, I'm off to school, Dad. Her father, who is taking time out from his teleworking, begins to remind her that the family are going teleshopping in the virtual city later in the day, but it is too late, his daughter has already donned her school helmet. She is no longer in the real world of her real home, she is in the virtual world of her virtual school.' Is this the shape of the future of education? This book presents a vision of what will happen to education and training as information technology develops. The argument is simple. To prepare people for life in an information society they need to be taught with the technology of an information society. But what shape will that take? Can the classroom as we know it - a communications system which has been in place for four thousand years - be replaced? The authors argue that through the development of telecommunications for telelearning a genuine revolution in education is in the making. The book describes how, through the convergence of a cluster of new technologies including virtual reality, artificial intelligence, nanotechnology and the superhighways of telecommunications, a new educational paradigm will emerge in the form of a virtual class. Teachers, trainers and educators who worry about how best to prepare students for life in an ever-changing world will find much inspiration in this engagingly written and jargon-free book |
SOLUTION Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster
The meaning of SOLUTION is an action or process of solving a problem. How to use solution in a sentence.
Solution (chemistry) - Wikipedia
In chemistry, a solution is defined by IUPAC as "A liquid or solid phase containing more than one substance, when for convenience one (or more) substance, which is called the solvent, is …
SOLUTION | English meaning - Cambridge Dictionary
SOLUTION definition: 1. the answer to a problem: 2. a mixture in which one substance is dissolved in another…. Learn more.
Solution - definition of solution by The Free Dictionary
A solution is a homogeneous mixture of two substances—that is, it has the same distribution of particles throughout. Technically speaking, a solution consists of a mixture of one or more …
Solution | Definition & Examples | Britannica
solution, in chemistry, a homogenous mixture of two or more substances in relative amounts that can be varied continuously up to what is called the limit of solubility. The term solution is …
solution noun - Definition, pictures, pronunciation and usage …
Definition of solution noun from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. [countable] a way of solving a problem or dealing with a difficult situation synonym answer. Attempts to find a …
Solution - Definition, Meaning & Synonyms - Vocabulary.com
A solution is all about solving or dissolving. If you find an answer to a question, both the answer and how you got there is the solution. If you dissolve a solid into a liquid, you've created a …
What does SOLUTION mean? - Definitions.net
In chemistry, a solution is a homogeneous mixture composed of only one phase. In such a mixture, a solute is a substance dissolved in another substance, known as a solvent. The …
SOLUTION definition and meaning | Collins English Dictionary
A solution is a liquid or solid which is made by dissolving a solid, liquid, or gas in the pure liquid or solid. A solution which does not dissolve any more solute is described as being supersaturated.
SOLUTION Definition & Meaning | Dictionary.com
Solution definition: the act of solving a problem, question, etc... See examples of SOLUTION used in a sentence.
SOLUTION Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster
The meaning of SOLUTION is an action or process of solving a problem. How to use solution in a sentence.
Solution (chemistry) - Wikipedia
In chemistry, a solution is defined by IUPAC as "A liquid or solid phase containing more than one substance, when for convenience one (or more) substance, which is called the solvent, is treated …
SOLUTION | English meaning - Cambridge Dictionary
SOLUTION definition: 1. the answer to a problem: 2. a mixture in which one substance is dissolved in another…. Learn more.
Solution - definition of solution by The Free Dictionary
A solution is a homogeneous mixture of two substances—that is, it has the same distribution of particles throughout. Technically speaking, a solution consists of a mixture of one or more …
Solution | Definition & Examples | Britannica
solution, in chemistry, a homogenous mixture of two or more substances in relative amounts that can be varied continuously up to what is called the limit of solubility. The term solution is …
solution noun - Definition, pictures, pronunciation and usage notes ...
Definition of solution noun from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. [countable] a way of solving a problem or dealing with a difficult situation synonym answer. Attempts to find a solution …
Solution - Definition, Meaning & Synonyms - Vocabulary.com
A solution is all about solving or dissolving. If you find an answer to a question, both the answer and how you got there is the solution. If you dissolve a solid into a liquid, you've created a different …
What does SOLUTION mean? - Definitions.net
In chemistry, a solution is a homogeneous mixture composed of only one phase. In such a mixture, a solute is a substance dissolved in another substance, known as a solvent. The solvent does the …
SOLUTION definition and meaning | Collins English Dictionary
A solution is a liquid or solid which is made by dissolving a solid, liquid, or gas in the pure liquid or solid. A solution which does not dissolve any more solute is described as being supersaturated.
SOLUTION Definition & Meaning | Dictionary.com
Solution definition: the act of solving a problem, question, etc... See examples of SOLUTION used in a sentence.
